Insert for an insulated container

ABSTRACT

An insert for a container having a rectangular inner cavity is detachably positioned inside the cavity to form an inscribed wall with rounded inner surface. The insert is a rectangular sheet of flexible resilient material that unrolls inside the cavity due to a spring action of the material to cover the straight corners of the cavity. A reinforcing plate secured to the sheet helps retain the flexible plastic sheet in an upright position inside the cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to containers, and more particularly, to containers having rectangular inner cavities with straight corners.

[0002] Box-shaped containers have been used for ages for retaining any type of items, from food to supplies, to living creatures. One variation of the rectangular container is an insulated container designed to keep perishable items in a relatively cool environment. Such containers are widely used in an industrial environment, in everyday life, with a list of items contained in the insulated containers being virtually limitless.

[0003] The insulated containers are also widely used by fishermen for keeping the fish below ambient temperature while the fisherman is outdoors and has no access to a refrigerator or freezer. Virtually all fishermen carry some type of a cooler or ice chest to the fishing site for storing the caught fish.

[0004] When fishing for a relatively large fish, such as in the ocean, many sportsmen prefer to use live bait. This live bait may be small fish, such as croakers, and other similar live creatures. When the live bait is used, it is essential to keep the bait in a lively condition so that it can attract bigger fish with its movement in the water.

[0005] The fishing supply shops sell containers that resemble a cylinder with a deep well wherein the live bait is deposited. It was observed that many small fish, such as croakers, while swimming in a conventional insulated container with a rectangular cavity, tends to “bump” into a corner, while attempting to swim in a circle around the interior periphery of the wall. While such occasional “bumps” would hardly harm the bait, it was observed that a repeated contact with the hard wall causes the small fish to injure itself, which is an undesirable result.

[0006] Additionally, the ideal constant flow of water through the fish gills is not attained when the fish is “stuck” in a corner while constantly bumping into the corner. It is preferred that the container be free from sharp edges and protrusions in order to minimize a chance of injury to live bait.

[0007] The reason for the rounded wall of the special container is an attempt to prevent the live bait from getting into the corner or repeatedly touching the container wall. The well-shaped bait containers are relatively expensive and from this point of view are less desirable to a recreational fisherman. Many fishermen use simple round buckets to store and transport the live bait. When the ambient temperature rises-the live bait may be adversely affected.

[0008] The present invention contemplates provision of an insert for a container having rectangular cavity that can be used for retrofitting existing rectangular-shaped containers, as well to provide an attachment for new containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an insert for a container that facilitates forming of an inner wall without straight corners.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide an insert for an insulated container that can be used as an attachment for new containers, as well as for retrofitting conventional insulated containers.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insert for an insulated container that is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0012] These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a removable insert that is temporarily placed in the inner cavity of the container and form an inscribed wall inside the cavity. The insert covers the straight corners of a conventional container cavity, while forming a rounded wall with no straight corners.

[0013] The insert is formed from a flexible resilient sheet having a generally rectangular configuration. The sheet is strong enough to retain its vertical orientation inside the container even when the container cavity is filled with water. The vertical dimensions of the sheet are substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of the container inner wall, while longitudinal dimensions are smaller than peripheral dimensions of the container inner wall.

[0014] To position the insert inside the container, the user places the sheet vertically in the cavity and allows the sheet to unroll under the spring action of the material and touch the container inner wall in some areas. At the same time, the sheet forms rounded surfaces that cover straight corners of the cavity.

[0015] A reinforcing plate is fixedly attached to one vertical edge of the insert. The reinforcing plate facilitates retaining of the insert in a vertical orientation inside the container and minimizes a possibility of the insert bending or collapsing when water is poured into the container. The edges of the reinforcing plate are cut on a taper to form a flush connection between the reinforcing plate and the insert sheet. Free vertical edges of the sheet are folded behind the reinforcing plate and secured, if desired, at their upper and lower portions by a compression member, such as for example a clamp. Tight engagement between the contacting edges of the insert and the reinforcing plate facilitates creation of a substantially protrusion-free oval-shaped insert.

[0016] The insert may be used for retrofitting insulated container, box-shaped containers and other similar enclosures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein

[0018]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an insert in accordance with the present invention positioned in a conventional insulated container.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the insert placed in a conventional container.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a side view of the insert showing a reinforcing plate.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a compression clamp used with the insert of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates a conventional insulated container having an outer peripheral wall 12 and an inner peripheral wall 14. The inner wall 14 defines an insulated cavity with four straight corners 16, 18, 20, and 22. An insulated material is inserted between the outer wall 12 and the inner wall 14 to retain the temperature inside the cavity in a relatively stable condition, be it hot or cold, depending on the needs of the user.

[0023] An insert in accordance with the present invention is designated by numeral 30. The insert 30 is comprised of a generally rectangular sheet of flexible, resilient material, for instance polystyrene that can be transparent or opaque. The vertical dimensions of the insert 30 are substantially equal to or smaller than the height of the sidewall 24 of the container 10. The longitudinal dimensions of the insert 30 are substantially equal to or smaller than the peripheral dimensions of the wall 14.

[0024] When placed inside the inner cavity of the container 10, the insert 30 forms a rounded inscribed wall, which becomes the inner wall of the container. An inner surface 32 of the insert 30 is smooth with no ridges or snags. The insert 30, when placed in the rectangular container 10 forms a well 34 having a generally oval cross-section. If the insert 30 is placed in a square cavity, the insert will naturally assume a circular cross-section.

[0025] To further ensure a proper position of the insert 30 inside the container 10, a reinforcing plate 42 is secured to one vertical edge 36 of the sheet 30, extending along the entire length of the edge 36. The reinforcing plate is glued or otherwise fixedly secured to the edge 36. The reinforcing plate 42 increases structural resistance of the sheet 30 to the movement of water inside the container 10. The first vertical edge 36 is cut on a taper. The reinforcing plate 42 is tapered at its outermost edges 44, 45, creating a more smooth connection between the edges 36 and 38 and the reinforcing plate 42.

[0026] The rectangular sheet of the insert 30 is placed in the container 10 and allowed to expand, due to its flexible resilient characteristics, forcing portions of the insert 30 to spring outwardly and contact the inner wall 14 of the container 10 in a manner shown in FIG. 1. The free vertical edges 36 and 38 of the insert 30 can be secured in an overlapping juxtaposed position against the back of the reinforcing plate 42, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3, or they may be simply moved together in an abutting relationship to each other.

[0027] Optional compression clips 40 (shown in detail in FIG. 4) can be provided for securing the vertical edges of the insert 30 at the top and lower portions thereof where the edge 38 contact the reinforcing plate 42. A top compression clip 40 is shown in FIG. 1. The clips 40 further ensure a flush connection between the edge 38 and the plate 42. It has been found that the clips 40 are sufficient to retain the sheet 30 and the reinforcing plate 42 in a close proximity to each other, preventing their separation.

[0028] The insert 30, when positioned inside the container 10 blocks off the straight corners 16, 18, 20, and 22 and prevents the live bait from reaching the corners or bumping against the inner wall 14. The live bait tends to swim along the wall 32 without contacting the wall. The continuous movement of the live bait in the well 34 prevents trapping of the baitfish in the corners of the conventional container and retains its vitality, which is necessary for attracting bigger fish.

[0029] Although the insert 30 is a “wrap around” insert, water may still penetrate under the wall of the insert and seep into the corners 16-22 of the container 10. The water creates a wave action when the container 10 is transported. The wave action tends to deform or displace the insert 30 from a position it acquired when placed in the container 10.

[0030] It is, therefore, preferred that the sheet, from which the insert 30 be made from a material thick enough to help the insert 30 retain its shape and position even when the container 10 is exposed to wave action or swinging motion. During tests it was determined that thickness of about 0.03 inches of the polystyrene material is sufficient to help retain the shape of the insert positioned in the container 10. Coupled with the reinforcing plate 42, stable position of the insert 30 inside the container 10 is provided.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 4, the compression member 40 is illustrated in more detail. The compression member 40 comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first leg 46 and a second leg 48 connected by a rounded connecting middle portion 50. A tightening screw 52 is inserted through the second leg 48, extending between the legs 46 and 48. The inwardly extending part 54 of the screw 52 contacts the insert 30 and brings the edge 38 into a flush engagement with the plate 42.

[0032] When properly placed in the container 10, the insert 30 demonstrates a substantially protrusion free inner wall 32. The fish swimming “in circles” along the wall 32 does not encounter sharp edges or protrusions that would injure the fish. The insert 30, therefore, ensures viability of the bait during fishing. The constant movement of the bait inside the confines created by the insert 30 help keep the movement of water through the gills of the small fish, further increasing live conditions of the bait.

[0033] It is envisioned that the inert 30 may not reach the top 26 of the container 10 as long as the insert is above the water level. It is also envisioned that an air-circulating pump may be placed on one of the walls of the container 10 to extend into the well 34 formed by the insert 30 and facilitate circulation of air into the created well. The clip 40 may be a conventional fastener, clamp, or any other type of compression fitting that can retain the edges of the insert 30 in an overlapping or abutting relationship to each other. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment that may be modified by the manufacturer to proportionally fit the insert 30.

[0034] In operation, the user rolls up the insert 30 into a tight cylinder and places it inside the container 10. The user then releases its grip on the rolled up insert 30 to allow the insert 30 to expand and spring itself into the oval or circular shape depending on the interior configuration of the container 10 and block off the corners of the container. The user then moves the edge 38 behind the plate 42 and positions the clips 40 on both the top and bottom edge of the sheet 30 and secures the vertical edge 38 to the plate 42.

[0035] If the insert 30 has longitudinal dimensions greater than the expected periphery of the inner wall 14 of the container 10, the vertical edges 36 and 38 may be caused to overlap to some distance. The overlapping edges may remain in their position even without the use of a compression fitting 40. It is preferred though that the compression member 40 be used at the top and bottom of the sheet 30 to ensure a flush connection. Alternatively, the user may cut to sheet to reduce its longitudinal dimensions and make a better fit to accommodate a particular container.

[0036] The insert 30 presents a considerable improvement over conventional bucket-type non-insulated containers that are used by fishermen to transport live bait to a fishing site. The water temperature in such a bucket may rise considerably, especially in hot weather, which will adversely affect the survival characteristics of the live bait. The insert 30 can be easily removed from the container 10 for cleaning and stored away when not needed, as a rolled up cylinder or just a flat sheet.

[0037] The insert 30 may be also used to retrofit a boat, particularly the live well structure available on some of the boats. The thickness of the wall of 0.03 inches is, of course, exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to a particular value of the sheet thickness. It is envisioned that several types of flexible resilient material may be used provided they can retain their shape under the force of water that is moving inside the container and tends to displace or warp the surface of the insert. So long as the wall of the insert 30 is relatively rigid, the thickness of the wall can be modified depending on the material used.

[0038] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing of the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An insert for a container having a generally rectangular cavity defined by a container inner wall, the insert comprising a flexible resilient body forming an inscribed wall when detachably positioned inside the container cavity.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said inscribed wall has no straight corners.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said body has vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said container.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said body has longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of said container inner wall.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation inside said cavity.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a generally rectangular sheet with opposing first and second vertical edges, and a reinforcing plate secured along a first vertical edge.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said reinforcing plate has plate edges cut on a taper to facilitate forming of a flush connection between the sheet and the reinforcing plate when said body is positioned in said cavity.
 8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a means for releasable securing of the second vertical edge of said sheet to the reinforcing plate.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said securing means comprises a pair of compression members clamping the second vertical edge to the reinforcing plate at the upper and lower portions of said second vertical edge.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein each of said compression member comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first leg, a second leg and a middle connecting part, and wherein a tightening screw is inserted through the second leg to extend between the first leg and the second leg to contact said sheet and said plate when said compression member is placed on said body.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said inscribed wall has rounded portions substantially covering straight corners of the container cavity.
 12. An insert for a container having a generally rectangular cavity defined by a container inner wall, the insert comprising a flexible resilient body detachably positionable in said container cavity to form an inscribed wall covering straight corners of said cavity.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said body has vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said cavity and longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of said container inner wall.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein said body comprises a generally rectangular sheet with opposing vertical edges and a reinforcing plate fixedly secured along a first vertical edge of said sheet, said reinforcing plate having plate edges that are cut on a taper to form a flush connection between said sheet and said plate when the body is positioned in said container.
 15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a means for releasable securing a second vertical edge of said sheet to said reinforcing plate, said securing means comprising a pair of compression members clamping upper and lower portions of said sheet and said second vertical edge.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein each of said compression members comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first leg, a second leg and a middle connecting part, and wherein a tightening screw is inserted through the second leg to extend between the first leg and the second leg to contact said body when said compression member is placed on said body.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation inside said cavity, forming an inscribed wall with no straight corners.
 18. A method of facilitating formation of a wall with no straight corners inside a generally rectangular cavity, comprising the steps of: providing a flexible resilient generally rectangular body having opposing vertical edges; positioning said body inside said cavity; and allowing said body to unfold, thereby forming an inscribed wall in said cavity, said wall covering straight corners of said cavity while defining a rounded inner surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation in said cavity.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said body comprises a rectangular sheet and a reinforcing plate secured to said sheet along a first vertical edge of the sheet, said body having vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said cavity and longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of a wall defining said cavity.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of providing a pair of compression members and positioning said compression members at upper and lower portions of a second vertical edge of said sheet and an edge of the reinforcing plate to ensure a flush connection between the second vertical edge and the reinforcing plate.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein each of said compression members comprises a generally U-shaped body with a tightening screw. 